Running gear for vehicles



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-8heet 1.

T. O. MUNZ..

RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES. v N0. 388,409. Patented May 22, 1888.

" it/1 ess es. Inventor (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. O. MUNZ.

RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

No. 883,409. PatentedMay' 22, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

THEODORE CHARLES MUNZ, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO.

\VARREN HENRY ELDRIDGE AND FRANKLIN HUBBARD, OF SAME PLACE.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

ESPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,409, dated IViay22, 1888.

Application filed September 13, 1887. Serial No. 249,603. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE CHARLES MUNZ, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucus and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful In1- provements in Running- Gearfor Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to running-gear for vehicles in which the axles areformed of metal with a longitudinal opening, into which the spindles areplaced and bear upon a packing inserted within the opening, being heldin firm relation thereto by clips, as will be more fully described, andpointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure lis a top plan view of a running-gear with thespindles omitted. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on lines 00 :r,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of the front axle, showing one of thespindles secured in place. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the rear axleformed rectangular in cross-section at its center for the purpose ofseating the springs thereon,the end portions being of the same form,or-of U shape, as preferred. Fig. 5 is a view taken through the lines 3y, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the rear axle, showing the sameformed throughout its length in U form in cross-section, with asupplemental block attached at its center as a bearing for the spring,Fig. 7 being a sectional view on lines 2 .2, Fig. 6, showing a packinginterposed between the axle and spindle. Fig. 8 is a sectional view onlines 1 Z, Fig. 8, showing the contour of the axle, the spindle inplace, and a packing interposed between the axle and spindle. Fig. 9 isa detail view showing one manner of securing the lower portion of thefifth-wheel to the axle, it being held in place by a bolt. Fig. 10 is asimilar view showing the same secured by a clip formed integral with thelower sec tion of the fifth-wheel. Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of thehead-block, a portion of the reaches, and the upper portion of thefifthwheel, the head-block and each section formed integral, the partsbeing inverted. Fig. 12 is a like view showing the construction when butone reach is employed.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the views.

A is the front, and A the rear, axle, constructed of metal struck up bysuitable dies,or in any other preferred manner bent to form a hollowcentral portiou,the whole being ofany form in cross section, beingeither U-shaped, 6o rectangular, oval, or in any other preferred form,so that the sides are parallel and the central portion is hollow, theobject being to secure rigidity and lightness.

The spindles B are attached to the axle by 6 being inserted within thehollow portion,and a suitable packing-such as wood, rubber, felt,due-interposed between the axle and spindle. In Fig. 8 there is shown apacking of rubber, O, which by its elasticity forms a very 7 desirablecushion for the spindle, the whole being held firmly in place by meansof clips D.

The axles can be formed in various shapes. Fig. 4. shows the centralportion rectangular, the end portion being U-shaped,thereby pro viding aflat surface upon which to rest the spring, while in Fig. 6 the axle isU-shaped for its entire length, and a block, A, is fitted to rest uponthe axle and has a square upper face for the spring to rest upon. E arebifur- 8o cated end portions of the reach attached to the rear axle byclips. F are the lower sec tions of the fifth wheel attached to axle Aby means of the bolt F, as shown in Fig. 9,0r by means of clip portionsF, formed integral therewith, as shown in Fig. 10, and the clipplate F,which bears upon the lower side of the axle. G is a clip king-bolt, itsclips embracing the axle and being provided with a clip-plate, G, havinga central bolt onto which 0 is secured brace H, and is held in place bynut H, as shown in Fig. 2, its rear end being secured to the reaches bybolts H. The up per portion of the clip is formed into akingbolt,G,whichextendsthroughthehead-block, and, if desired, throughthe spring.

I will now describe my improved headblook as shown in Fig. 11, whereinis shown the head-block K and reach-sections L formed integral, theybeing likewise formed of a sin- IOO gle piece of metal struck up in anydesired shape in crosssection, preferably rectangular,

as shown, and a central perforated bearingpiece, K, of a shapecorresponding to the hollowedout portion inserted therein, being held inplace by the king-bolt G, there being sufficient stock in the metalblanks of which the head-block is constructed to complete the ends inany desired ornamentation.

In preparing the blanks for the purpose of being molded or struck upinto shape there is preferably a portion cut out at K of a widthcorresponding to the clip to be used in securing the spring in placeupon the headblock. The fifth-wheel is secured to the headblock andreach-sections by bolts.

To the rear axle is attached bifurcated metal reach sections, thesesections being held by clips embracing the axles, the reaches beingsecured in the bifurcated portions by bolts passing through the same.

0 are braces secured to the axle by clips and to the reach by bolts'inthe usual way. In

Fig. 12 is shown a headblock provided with but one reach-section, thisbeing a preferred construction in some instances.

By my construction of axles it will be observed that I am enabled toform the spindle of greater width in the direction of the bearing strainthan in the ordinary construction, wherein the broadest surface is atthe top and bottom sides, in order to give bearing for the wood portionresting thereon. It will be also understood that by my improved mode ofmanufacturing the metal parts of the runninggear it is possible to varythe style and ornamentation indefinitely by changing the form of diesand mold in which they are prepared.

Having describedmyinvention,what1 claim, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

In a vehicle runninggear, metal axles formed with a longitudinal openingupon their lower sides, in combination with a packing placed within thelongitudinal opening and against the upper web, with spindles bearingagainst the packing and held in a firm relation thereto by clipsembracing the axle and spindle, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE CHARLES MUNZ.

Vitnesses:

WILLIAM WEnstrER, J AMES E. RAYMER.

